The simple act of walking- lifting one's feet, one at a time, to propel one's body forward- assumes infinitely greater significance for someone who has, to use my father Mr. Ajit Jogi’s words, "not been able to make eye-contact with anyone for eight long years" because of having been straddled to a wheelchair. "Now, finally," he says, "I am able to look people in the eye when I talk to them."

This video-clip shows Papa taking his first steps in Mumbai using a robotic exoskeleton (called e-legs) developed by Rex Bionics, a New Zealand-based company. When his e-leg has been customized (in another 2 months or so), he would become the company's fourth e-leg user in the world (the other three being from the US, Canada and New Zealand)- and it is his fervent hope and desire that continuing advancements in technology would make wheelchairs a thing of the past.

Speaking for our family and well-wishers, today- 17th March 2012- has been, without doubt, the happiest, most momentous day of our lives: Papa is not the only one in Ninth Heaven!

Disclaimer: The author wishes to acknowledge that the background music is from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik.
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